Is There a Right Way to Pray? What Scripture Teaches

Posted on May 04, 2017 Topic : Men's Christian Living
Posted by : Jim George

Let me start by saying that there is no specific formula one must follow or position one must use in order to pray the right way. The Bible gives multiple examples of people bowing in prayer, kneeling in prayer, standing in prayer, even lying prostrate in prayer. Here are some of the different ways God’s people prayed:

- Moses and Aaron “fell on their faces” on many occasions as they offered up prayers and entreaties to God for the sins of the people (see Numbers 16:22 for one example).

- King David meditated on his bed and wrote, “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches” (Psalm 63:6).

- Solomon knelt with his hands spread upward toward heaven as he offered a prayer of dedication for the newly completed temple (1 Kings 8:54).

- Jonah prayed while in the stomach of a great fish (Jonah 2:1-9).

- Ezra uttered his prayers for the people by “confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God” when the people were unfaithful (Ezra 10:1).

- Nehemiah prayed while standing on the wall and supervising the workers: “We made our prayer to our God, and because of [the enemy] we set a watch against them day and night” (Nehemiah 4:9).

- Peter prayed while walking on the water. Actually, he prayed, “Lord, save me!” while sinking in the water (Matthew 14:30).

- Paul prayed on bended knee in prison while chained to guards: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father” (Ephesians 3:14).

- The Ephesian elders knelt down on the beach and prayed with Paul before his last trip to Rome (Acts 20:36).

And let’s take a closer look at Hannah from the Old Testament. It appears she prayed to God for a son while standing (1 Samuel 1:26). Nothing new here.

But Hannah’s prayer was different in one way. She “spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard” (verse 13). This was highly unusual! So unusual, in fact, that Eli, the priest, thought Hannah was drunk. Hannah’s prayer in this manner is the first biblical record of silent or mental prayer.

What do all these different examples teach us? If there are times when verbal prayer would help you express your thoughts and desires better, pray out loud to your heart’s content. But also remember that words are not essential to the offering of true prayer. God listens to your heart as much as—or more than—to the words from your lips. Your heart reveals your true self, and that is where God looks (1 Samuel 16:7).

There will be times when, as with Hannah, your heart will be overflowing with thoughts and desires or hurts and confusion. In these times, you can pray and let the Spirit help you in your weakness (Romans 8:26).

Regardless of posture, or whether you pray out loud or silently,
the fact that you pray, and pray with humility, is the right way.